Improvement in electro-magnetic indicators for steam-engines



A. R. HARRIS.

Improvement in Electra-Magnetic Indicators for Steam Engines.

Patented June 13,1871.

figure.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ANDREW R. HARRIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECT RO-MAGNETIC INDICATORS FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,847, dated June 13, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW It. HARRIS, of

St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have made certain new and useful Improvementsin Motion-Indicators forMarine- Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and true description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon. In this invention the power of electro-magnetism is used to communicate motions of ma line-engines to indicating and registering devices displayed in a tablet-frame in the pilothouse; also, to signal and indicate the bells in the engine-room thus enabling the pilot, captain, or other oiiicer of the vessel to know at all times the exact motion of said engine, (usually termed running ahead and backing motions,) and guarding against any misunderstanding as regards said motions or the signaling of the bells.

The nature of said invention relates, firstly, in the construction and arrangement of indicating devices adapted to be operated by electro-magnets, and connecting the wires of said electro-magnets to a circuitbreaker arranged in connection with the shaft of the engine. Secondly, said invention relates to the devices used in combination with electromagnets for signaling and indicating the bells, all of which will now more fully be described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my said invention, I will now more fully describe the same referring to the accompa- 11y1ng-- Figure l as a perspective view, showing battery-connections; Fig. 2 as a rear elevation, showing devices in tablet-frame; and to Fig. 3

as a front elevation of tablet and its devices.

Fig. 1. The battery D, which furnishesthe current, is placed in any suitable part of the engine-room or pilot-house. The positive wire (I of said battery I connect in any well-known manner to the sprin g-switch O. The duplicate negative wires d d I connect from battery with electro -magnets E E, arranged within the tablet-frame F, Fig. 1. Said wires d d coil around said eleetro-magnets to return and "make connection with the respective brackets O 0 in manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The armatures e e of the electro-magnets E E carry target-levers G G, so arranged as to vibrate over openings 9 g in the tablet F, Fig. 2. I also provide said target-levers with hands g vibrating in suitable slots of the tablet F, and displayed in front of the same, Fig. 3. The hands g g serve to indicate the continuous motion of the engine in day-time. In the nighttime a suitable light is placed within the tabletframe to indicate said motions of the engineshaft. This is accomplished by the vibrating action of the target-levers G G displaying the light through the openings 9 g in manner indicated in Fig. 2.

I have also arranged further mechanical devices to more perfectly indicate the motions of the engine thus designated by pivoting within the frame F, to its tablet f, a plate, H, having openings h M, Fig. 2, operating over corresponding openings h k in the tablet, Figs. 2 and 3. Said openings are so arranged that, in accordance with the motions of the engine, the light shall be admitted through said openings, thus forming light-signals to record said motion in the night. To record or register said motions in the day, I have provided the tablet F with a pointer, I, Fig. 8, its shaft t operated by lugs of the plate H, Fig. 2. The plate H is manipulated by the target-levers G G acting against small lugs or projections & i on said plate.

The operation of these parts is, therefore, as follows: In the forward motion of the engine the spring switch O is manipulated by the sprocket-wheel B, and contact is established with the bracket O and a current passes into Wire 61 leading to electro magnets E 5 said magnet attracts the armature e, and by means of the target-lever G indicates said motion by vibrating hand g (at night by light-signal g,-) at the same time, by means of the recordingplate H being actuated to one side, said motion is recorded by light-signal k in the night-time,

and by the pointer I moving to the left in the daytime. Similarly are the operation of parts to indicate and register the backward motion of the engine.

Furthermore, within the tablet-frame F I have arranged the manipulating devices to signal and record the bells in the engine-room. I provide the bells with electro-magnets J J the armatures J J of which carry hammers jj arranged to strike bells. (See Fig. 1.) The battery D (or a separate battery, if preferable,) I connect to said electro-magnets J J by duplicate positive wires j passing around said magnets to lead to and pass also around electro-magnets K K, arranged within frame F to connect with metal brackets is 70 secured to the sides of said frame, and forming part of the manipulator, Figs. 1 and 2. The negative wire j of the battery connects with springs L L secured to the rear part of the frame F, and arranged as shown in Fig. 2. To operate said,

springs I provide the tablet with the respective keys 1 1 When said keys are depressed, the circuit is completed, and the current, passing through wires j 7" to electro-magnets J J, causes the same to attract its armatures J 2 J 3 and strike the bells.

In order to indicate the bell-ring, I furthermore provide the tablet with a pointer, 1 having its shaft secured centrally to armature M, arranged to vibrate freely'on a standard, M, in manner shown in Fig. 2. As soon, therefore, as said armature is attracted by either electro-magnets, the pointer Z is actuated to move in the direction of the key or knob operated upon, and to remain in position as a record until the motion is changed. The frame F, containing the operating devices, is secure- 1y inclosed to prevent any unauthorized handling of parts; also, tablet may be suitably lettered, to more clearly understand the operation as desired.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement of wheel B on shaft A, spring 0, metal brackets G 0 having keys 0 0, post B, in combination with electro-magnets E E, armatures e e, target-levers Gr G hands g 9 to indicate the motions of engine-shaft A, substantially as set forth.

2. The plate H, light-signals h h, pointer I, arranged in tablet F, in combination with target-levers G G armatures e e, and electromagnets E E, to register the motions indicated, substantially as described.

3. The arrangement of keys l 1 springs LL brackets k 70, electro-magnets K K, vibrating armature M carrying pointer 1 in combination with electro-maguets J J armatures J J carrying hammers j j for signaling and registering the bells, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set my hand.

A. R. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

J. W. HERTHEL, ROBERT BURNs. 

